Hi all,
I've heard about people getting their passports checked upon exiting Schengen countries, which I can say that in all my years traveling to Schengen countries has never happened to me. In any event, if I overstayed my visa in Italy, made it through without getting fined, could I get in trouble with US customs when I arrive in Newark. I'd be overstaying the Visa by around 7 months.
I don't know if US customs has any say in a European law, but I know they always ask A LOT of questions upon arrival, including "how long have you been traveling?".
I'm not condoning lying, but in this situation would I be honest and say I've been living in Itay 7 months past my tourist visa or do I just say 3 months? What could they really do?
Any help is appreciated!
- Ashley
Since you're not apparently a resident in Italy I'm not sure how relevant this is to your case, but I'll toss it in: the US immigration agent usually asks me how long was my visit to Italy, and I reply "I live there" and that's it. No one in the US has ever asked what is the legal basis for my residence abroad. (German immigration agents did, once, when I was flying back to Italy on Lufthansa.)
Cathleen,
I do have a permesso di soggiorno! It will expire and I am not able to renew it because of the type it is. I planned on staying over and then going home for 3-4 months, and returning if I wanted to.
Why just flippantly break the law?
Would you appreciate this happening back in your country of birth? you obviously don't have problems with illegal immigrants?
The visa you entered Italy on, was for an initial fixed period until your permesso/carta di soggiorno was granted, which then took presedence.
for family in dad mum son; do mv $family italia ;done
Thanks Paulmac
A friend has spent every summer for years at his house in Italy. Last year he inadvertently overstayed by 2 days and this was picked up when he exited via Switzerland. He was sternly reproved by the customs officer who threatened to ban him from all Schengen countries for three years.
For what's it's worth, I left Italy in March after inadvertently overstaying by a couple of months (and please, no smart*** remarks about how is that possible. Easily!)
First of all, the Italian officer at exit immigration barely glanced at my passport, had to stop in the UK on the way back and they also said nothing, contrary to what everyone told me would happen (though my son is a dual UK/US citizen so this could have had something to do with that one), and in the US they also said nothing about my overstay. I HIGHLY doubt any US official is going to question a US citizen on overstaying a tourist visa in Europe. I wouldn't get yourself too worked up about it. Just my two cents.
yellowbrickroad
thanks yellowbrickroad, which airport in Italy did you leave from?
Sure they could not question you but then again they could. I have been here since 1989 and don't think anyone has ever asked for my pdis once until this april when I was travelling alone..exiting Switzerland to go to the US..they kept me for 10 minutes inspecting all my stuff. Same thing happened a week later when I flew back in through Frankfurt. No one in the US asked me anything but the Swiss were all over me and you would think they wouldn't care but it seems some people like to enforce the rules.
If your permesso is valid when you leave should be no problem.
I find it so amusing how people think its great that others get away with breaking the laws. I can imagine the flip side if it happened in the US.
Io sono ancora qua
eh già
Verona Airport